Bribes, costumes, and crosspoints: Introducing the freshman party

So far, all you've heard about the freshman party is that it will be the most important and memorable night of your student life. Maybe you've been told that you need to wear a ridiculous costume and bribe the crosspoint holders (later also referred to as the judges, as they are the ones that evaluate your performance) as much as you can. Everything you've heard is true, of course. But there is more to the story.

In Finland, all the student associations organize a freshman party for the new students in the beginning of the academic year. Not only is it important for bonding with new classmates, it is also how the oldies welcome the newbies to student life, and officially make them members of the university community. Traditionally, older students wear their student overalls to this event; freshmen normally don't have theirs yet at this point, and have to be wearing their theme-specific costumes anyway. The main idea is the following: there are crosspoints spread around the campuses and the city with different kinds of tasks, which will be evaluated based on performance, team spirit, attitude, and possible bribing. The students are divided into groups and they follow a route given to them, going through all the crosspoints and trying to score as many points as possible. Depending on the association, the level of drinking and humiliation at the freshman party can vary to a great extent, but for everyone, the point is to have a carefree night of harmless fun. 

How to behave at a freshman party then? Here are the main things you need to know.

BEFORE:

1. Prepare a costume according to the theme. This will directly affect the points you get for attitude and spirit at the crosspoints.

2. Get something to bribe the crosspoint holders with. Even they realize that it is not possible for everyone to be the best at everything. This is why you need to have drinks, food, gifts, compliments, - anything really - with you to make the judges give you points for something other than your performance, and if necessary, make them forget all about your performance.

DURING:

1. The teams will be randomly assigned. Make friends with everyone in your group, and come up with a team name and possibly a theme song or a routine to do along the way and upon arrival to each crosspoint. Each team will have one or two group leaders who know the drill and who will help you find your way in the city and charm the judges.

2. Be in a good mood, and spread it. Team spirit and attitude will definitely be valued by the crosspoint holders.

3. Read the map or the instructions carefully, and follow the route given to you to avoid waiting, getting lost, and missing crosspoints ( = not getting or even trying to get all the possible points).

4. Respect the judges. Always respect the judges.

5. Bribe the judges. Most definitely bribe the judges.

6. Remember also to keep up the good spirit between crosspoints as well. We have spies around every corner. If you come across another team (also known as your competition) on the way, the general rule is to be louder and have oh so much more fun than they do.

7. Do your best or your worst, as long as you have fun!

AFTER:

Join the amazing afterparty, where the team with the best overall performance will be rewarded. Share stories about the things you did and saw along the way, and compare experiences from the crosspoints - at this point it is already ok and even recommended to be friendly with your competition. Leave it all behind, enjoy a night out in disguise, and party until the dawn!

The ESN Jyväskylä Freshman party in short:

WHEN? Wednesday 24th of September at 17:30. Sharp!
WHERE? Start in front of the C-building (= main building) on the Seminaarinmäki campus, after that around the campuses and the city. After party in BAR BRA at 22-04!
DRESSCODE: Cultural Stereotypes. Crazy outfits will score points at the Freshman party, and the best costume at the afterparty will win a spot on the sold-out trip to Lapland with ESN Jyväskylä and Timetravels!

Read more details on Facebook: The Freshman party & the afterparty

FRESHMAN PARTY. C-BUILDING ON SEMINAARINMÄKI. COSTUME. Be there!